i86 TRAVELS IN 
Tine produdions, known by naturalifts under 
the name of Jlags horns. Being at this time 
perfuaded that thefe concretions, of which I 
had no idea, were a peculiar prefent of na* 
ture, I confidered the CafFre oxen as a va- 
riety of the fpecies : but I was undeceived by 
my guefts, who informed me that this fin- 
gularity was only the efFedt of their inven- 
tion and tafte ^ and that, by means of a pro- 
cefs with which they were well acquainted, 
they could not only multiply thefe horns, 
but alfo give them any forms that their ima- 
gination might fuggeft. Having offered to 
exhibit their fkill in my prefence, if I had 
any deiire of learning their method, it ap- 
peared to me fo new and uncommon, that I 
was willing to ferve an apprenticefliip; and 
for feveral days I attended a regular coarfe 
of lefTons on this fubjedt. 
They take the animal at as tender an agf 
as poiTible^ and, when the horns begin to ap- 
pear, they make a fmall vertical incifion in 
them with a faw, or with any other inflru- 
ment that may be fubflituted for it, and di- 
vide them into two parts. This divifion 
makes the horns, yet tender, feparate of 
themfelves ^ fo that in time the animal has 
four 
